Columbus #1
Who sponsored Columbus's expedition in
1942?
Spain
Which empire did the army of Hernando Cortes conquer in Mexico?
The Aztec
What European group reached North America about 500 years before Christopher Columbus?
The Vikings
What did Varrazano, Cartier, and Hudson search for in North America?
The Northwest Passage
What was the main reason that Columbus
sailed west from Europe?
To find a more direct water route to Asia
Why did so many Europeans want to find
the Northwest Passage?
Many Europeans believed in the
Northwest passage, which would be a
shortcut to Asia. They wanted to find it so
that they could set up trade routes that
would bring them wealth and power.
Why did Columbus have to wait until after
the Reconquista to start his voyage?
Columbus needed the support of King
Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to pay for
the costs of his voyage. During the
Reconquista, King Ferdinand and Queen
Isabella were too busy fighting a war to
support Columbus.
What were three problems the early European explorers faced?
They needed better maps and new
technology for long voyages. They needed
a lot of money to pay the costs of their
expeditions. They faced great dangers in
exploring unknown seas and lands.
What was Christopher Columbus's belief about the lands he reached in 1942? Were his beliefs correct or incorrect? Why?
He thought that the lands he had reached
were Asia. Amerigo Vespucci did not see
lands that matched Marco Polo's
descriptions of Asia. Balboa's crew
reached the Pacific Ocean proving that
Amerigo Vespucci was right about an
unknown continent.
What were some of the costs AND benefits of expeditions for explorers and their sponsors?
Costs included money to pay for ships, crew, and supplies. Ships could sink or an explorer might not find anything of value.Benefits included finding gold, furs and other valuable resources: claiming new lands, gaining power, and spreading Christianity.